Rep. Ligi, Anthony V (R)
District# 79, Metairie

• District # 79: House District 1
• Party: Republican
• Caucus Membership: Jefferson Parish Legislative Delegation
  Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation
• Occupation: Attorney and Real Estate Title Insurance Agent
• Education: B.A., Mansfield University, Political Science; J.D., Loyola University School of Law, New Orleans
• Spouse: Diane
• Year Elected: 2007
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
• 2007 Election
Out of a field of five candidates, Tony Ligi, a self-employed attorney, notary public and real estate title insurance agent since 1982, led the race to replace Representative Danny Martiny from the very beginning. With forty-two percent of the votes in the primary, Ligi easily made the runoff with another Kenner Republican, George Branigan, who only garnered twenty-three percent of the primary balloting. Branigan dropped out of the runoff race the week after the primary, as the uphill battle to defeat Ligi proved to be too difficult.

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• Economic: Located on the south shore of Lake Ponchartrain, Hurricane Katrina caused a decrease in population for this Kenner community, due in part to job loss and housing relocation. Still, this district is surviving with some big industries and employers.
• The gaming and medical industries provide a significant amount of economic impact, as Treasure Chest Casino and Ochsner Medical Center are two of the district’s largest employers. Other major employers and economy boosters include the Lake Ponchartrain Conference Center and Super Wal-Mart. Many residents also commute to Metairie or New Orleans for work.
• Social: Primarily a bedroom community, this district incurred extensive flood damage from Hurricane Katrina. Residents of several neighborhoods are still living in FEMA trailers, and record numbers of houses are for sale or vacant. Many suburban residents call the northern edge of Kenner and parts of west Metairie home, ranging from modest families to some professional athletes.
• Political: This district holds the title of the most conservative district in the state with Republicans accounting for nearly fifty percent of the constituency. Although the district is extremely conservative, it is overwhelmingly pro-gaming. Once again, Hurricane Katrina may have altered the political makeup of this district, but without a new census of the district, estimates of how many of the residents have returned and their political party affiliation would not be accurate at this time.

• Out of a field of five candidates, Tony Ligi, a self-employed attorney, notary public and real estate title insurance agent since 1982, led the race to replace Representative Danny Martiny from the very beginning. With forty-two percent of the votes in the primary, Ligi easily made the runoff with another Kenner Republican, George Branigan, who only garnered twenty-three percent of the primary balloting. Branigan dropped out of the runoff race the week after the primary, as the uphill battle to defeat Ligi proved to be too difficult.
• Early on, Ligi received endorsements from some of the state’s major Republican elected officials and organizations, including U.S. Senator David Vitter and LABI. The Times-Picayune endorsed Ligi on account of his political and civic involvement and leadership, which includes having been chairman of the Republican Party for Jefferson Parish and co-founder of the Pelican State Pachyderm Club, the Elmwood Park Civic Association and Citizens for a Safer Jefferson. Having received numerous endorsements himself, Ligi endorsed Blueprint Louisiana and Louisiana 1 ethics platforms.
• Ligi has gravitated toward good government bills in recent years. For the 2010 regular session, he has a proposed constitutional amendment that would yank retirement benefits away from public officials and employees convicted of felony acts associated with their positions. He also has another streamlining bill that would force state agencies to email reports and publications to lawmakers – instead of regular mail.